The conversation around Ja Morant and his long-term future in Memphis has intensified this season, as reports of tension between the All-Star guard and new head coach Tuomas Iisalo continue to circulate.
The friction reportedly came to a head during the Grizzlies’ NBA Cup matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Halloween, when Iisalo challenged Morant’s leadership in front of the team.
Memphis went on to lose that game, and the postgame exchange between player and coach reportedly grew heated. Morant later served a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the franchise and has publicly noted that playing in Memphis no longer feels the same as it once did.
While there is no confirmation that Memphis intends to move Morant, league conversations have opened the door to hypothetical trade frameworks.
One scenario links the Grizzlies with the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics, creating a three-team structure centered on salary matching, roster roles, and future flexibility.
In the proposal set forth by ClutchPoints, Sacramento would acquire Morant along with Baylor Scheierman. The Kings have made multiple high-profile changes to their guard rotation over the past few seasons, and adding Morant would give them a dynamic, downhill playmaker to pair with Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis.
The roster is built to run, and Morant’s tempo-heavy game fits that identity. Sacramento would part with DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and a 2029 first-round pick, along with sending Devin Carter to Boston and draft compensation through Memphis.
Boston’s side of the deal centers on bringing in DeRozan and Carter. With Jayson Tatum out indefinitely, the Celtics have adjusted toward a more mid-range focused offense, and DeRozan is one of the league’s most reliable scorers from that area.
Carter provides depth as a two-way developmental guard who can learn alongside Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. DeRozan’s contract structure also provides Boston with flexibility after this season, contingent upon performance and playoff outcomes.
Memphis’ return would include Anfernee Simons, Malik Monk, Jordan Walsh, and multiple draft picks. Simons and Monk supply scoring and lineup versatility, while the added picks expand Memphis’ options for either rebuilding or reshaping around Jaren Jackson Jr. The structure also offers short-term scoring help and long-term maneuverability.